Hawaii Kai / East Oahu Event Calendar

A popular hiking trail in East Oahu will be temporarily closed to the public as crews complete improvements to the parking lot area.

Officials with the Department of Land and Natural resources said the trail will be closed from Wednesday September 13 until Friday September 15. During the closure, crews will be applying a weather-resistant protective slurry to the park's entry road and parking lot.

Aug 18 - Kaiser High School in Hawaii Kai has forfeited its first two football games due to a shrinking roster. Hawaii Prep World highlights some of the issues affecting both the team and Hawaii high school football overall. [Hawaii Prep World]

Aug 18 - Chef Eric Oto has lived, learned and worked his whole life on Oahu. This month he debuts in his new post as chef de cuisine for Hoku's, Kahala Hotel and Resort's signature restaurant. Oto, a graduate of the culinary program at Oahu's Leeward Community College, worked his way up at Halekulani, becoming sous chef at Orchids restaurant. He then moved on to Four Seasons Ko Olina, where he helped open the Ko Olina Fish House as the sous chef. [Travel Weekly]

Aug 15 - Following community outcry, the Kahala Hotel has pulled its environmental impact assessment regarding expansion of its wedding venue to shoreline areas. [HNN]

Aug 14 - Middle school charter SEEQS began instruction at their new location, shared with them via generous consent of Kaimuki High School. [Civil Beat]

Aug 14 - The derelict home in Kaimuki that caused concern among neighbors has now been replaced by a new two-story home and new owners. Honolulu City Councilmember Ann Kobayashi spoke to KHON2 regarding the subsequent ordinance and lessons learned. [KHON2]

Aug 13 - Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii posted surveillance images online over the weekend of a man they believe stole a drone from their Kaimuki home office. The organization said the apparent robbery took place on Monday Aug. 7 just after 7:30 p.m. [HNN]

Aug 12 - The Medical Examiner identified the fisherman swept away from the shores near the Kahala Hotel as Matthew Mabida-Bridges, 30, of Honolulu. Mabida-Bridges and his companion were fishing Aug 11 when a large wave knocked them off their feet. [Star-Advertiser]

Aug 11 - The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) has been ramping up its patrol of parking lots in the Makapuu area following a rash of vehicle break-ins. [HNN]

A replacement pole needs to be flown to a hill behind a residential area where there are low-hanging power lines that provide service to more than 150 customers and the Hawaii Kai fire station. More at: [KHON2]

The location of the fire is in the area of Niumalu Loop, near the entrance of the valley, which was the scene of a recent rash of suspicious brush fires that have been plaguing the community throughout the year. [KHON]

July 6 - The Bus announced service changes for July 8 (Saturday) due to the Family Day parade in Waikiki. East Oahu routes affected include #14 Maunalani-St Louis Heights, #23 Hawaii Kai-Sea Life Park and #24 Kapahulu-Aina Haina [TheBus]

July 6 - Filming for the "Jurassic World" sequel is set to close Halona Blowhole this weekend. The lookout, parking and cove will all be closed starting 5:30 a.m. Friday through Saturday. Kalanianaole Highway near these locations will remain open, but police may intermittently hold traffic as needed, causing potential delays. [HNN]

July 5 - Seven gymnasts -- including 15-year-old Kayttie Nakamura of Kaimuki and 12-year-old Samantha Miyashiro of Aina Haina -- put Hawaii on the map this weekend, competing in the USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [HNN]

July 3 - Police were at the scene of a barricade situation in Hawaii Kai Monday. The Honolulu Police Department's SWAT Team were also there and an ambulance was on scene as a precaution. Just before 1 p.m., all roads were reopened on Kalanipuu Street after a family member talked the occupant into giving himself up. [KITV]

July 3 - The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified a 43-year-old Hawaii Kai man who died in a single-vehicle crash as Michael Kaneala Epstein. Epstein died after he struck a concrete pillar near Market City Shopping Center around 5 am. [Star-Advertiser]

Jun 28 - Don Quijote group to buy Times Supermarkets chain. The acquisition is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2017 and will not affect daily store operations. All current employees are expected to be retained. In East Oahu, Times operates two branded locations -- Kahala and Kaimuki -- as well as Shima's market in Waimanalo. [HNN]

June 22--A husband and wife were taken into custody in state court Wednesday after they were each sentenced to 10-year prison terms for stealing $278,653 from the company that owns Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. The wife told the judge that the couple used the money for gambling and methamphetamine. In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered the couple to repay the shopping center. [Star Advertiser - library card required]

EastOahu96825 is a website focused on the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood. Articles of interest include nearby free and low-cost events, local fundraisers, Costco shopping, and my trials and tribulations in learning Japanese as a second language.

This site also posts the latest information on my pet project, a once a month plant swap that takes place every 2nd Tuesday at Kaiser High School from 4-7pm.